“The pet cemetery gives us insight into family life at the Presidio,” said Craig Middleton, executive director of the trust. “We are grateful that the veterans of Swords to Plowshares have offered to care for this important part of the Prsidio’s legacy.”

By most accounts, the cemetery dates back to the 1950s when more than 2,000 families lived on the military base. Some believe it was originally a burial ground for 19th-century cavalry horses or World War II guard dogs, but its historical record is spotty. It has been closed to internments since 1963.